Mattagami First Nation's chief-elect Jennifer Constant wants everyone in her community to know anything is possible, especially the youth.
“I want for them to have an opportunity to see a future that has no limitations,” she said. “We have to address some of the socio-economic issues that are happening in our community, but they’re really the generation that’s going to grow up and do really wonderful things.”
Constant was elected during the Mattagami First Nation’s election on Sept 30 along with six council members — Kourtney Baulne, Janelle Golinowski, Cindy McKay, Dereck McKay, Devin Naveau, and Sue Prince.
Constant is looking forward to seeing where they can go as a team.
“There are people who have been on council before, and there are some newer people, and it’s going to be a wonderful learning curve for them to see how the governance is carried out,” she said. “And there are people who are returning from a long time ago, so it’ll be an opportunity to gauge where we were at and see the progress we’ve made.”
“They’re all good people and they all have a great deal of capacity, so I’m looking forward to us bringing our gifts and our strengths together,” she said.
Constant previously served as a council member for Mattagami First Nation for 19 years. She worked with Nishnawbe Aski Nation prior to running for chief.
Building up opportunities for community members and lifting the bar are priorities going forward as well.
Pushing back against stereotypes is a big part of that, Constant said.
“Years ago, I used to be impacted by those stereotypes, because I didn’t know that they were a symptoms of oppression as opposed to cultural identity,” she said. “So we’re going to remove all of that and build a stronger nation.”
This election is the first time that Mattagami First Nation used the First Nations Election Act format, meaning chief and council will serve a four-year term instead of the two-year terms that happened under the Indian Act Election system.
“It’s falling more in line with our values,” she said.
Constant is excited about that longer term.
“I get to really do the work,” said Constant. “The previous two-year terms that our First Nation held really made it impossible to move forward any initiatives, so I’m excited for my own platform goals but also that of the council.”
Constant said she’s looking forward to the partnerships with industry that will lift up the community.
Mattagami First Nation is part of the Wabun Tribal Council.
“Now is the time that we are able to start making progress that was stalled for so long,” she said. “We’ve made some great strides in the past 30 years, but I think this is the jump-off point, and you’re going to see things really rise, and our presence is going to be known in our territory as well.”
Leadership has been a part of Constant’s family for generations, and she says that is a responsibility she carries with her in her work.
“Leadership has always been in my family lineage, and it’s something that we as a family are always aware of, and we’re always paying respect to that,” she said. “Also we’re looking at the type of leadership in the community, that we are inclusive and including everyone into that leadership, which sometimes doesn’t happen.”
She said that as opportunities grow and shift for the community, it’s a chance to change people’s perceptions.
“We’re at a point where in our community there’s a lot of opportunity and we want to reestablish the integrity and dignity and real leadership that our family has always known,” she said.
Constant and the council members will be sworn in on Oct. 18 at Mattagami First Nation.
